By Alicia R. Ball
Notoriety brought out the fashion enthusiast crowd to SCAD Atlanta on April 28 for a series of lectures during SCAD Style Fashion Week. Students, alumni, and professors alike joined Atlanta business professionals at See Gallery to hear public relations practitioner and fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone speak on the state of the fashion industry. Cutrone, best recognized from the reality TV show “The Hills,” is known for her straight-shooter style and brutal honesty in regards to fashion.
Cutrone began the lecture with stories of her early life and desire to move to New York City at the age of 16. She revealed that she was indeed a MTV culture kid with aspirations to move to NYC, despite the disapproval of her father. Yet, Cutrone surprised the audience by informing them that she attended the University of Hawaii instead, as a poetry student. After college, she worked in upstate New York as a psychiatric nurse before making her mark on the fashion industry. Cutrone’s sense of humor and ability to keep a packed audience laughing allowed the lecture to move smoothly through her short stories, vital fashion industry information and colorful question-and-answer session.
Those asking questions during the session included Project Runway contestant and Atlanta local Mychael Knight as well as Amanda Brown Olmstead, CEO of her own Atlanta area public relations firm. Topics of discussion ranged from the lack of black models and designers in the industry to whether there will ever be a huge fashion presence in Atlanta or the South. Throughout the question-and-answer session, Cutrone expressed her brutally honest opinions, which some see as fact, though others may disagree.
Overall, Cutrone was not merely entertaining and enjoyable; she imparted her own wisdom to the audience, asserting that she doesn’t approve of parents who turn their kids into machines. She stresses self-individuality in all endeavors. Cutrone also called for the end of idol worshipping: “Don’t look up to anybody. Don’t want to be like anybody. Be you, because that’s already been done before. Madonna is Madonna.” Cutrone, then, gave her insider’s view on how to be famous, “Talk about yourself all the time!” Though the audience and Cutrone laughed at her comment, she implied that she was serious.
During the lecture, Cutrone educated the audience on the current state of the fashion industry and the issue of old media versus new media. She revealed that the Internet has changed the fashion game. Fashion bloggers have become the new fashion editors; renowned writers such as Teri Agins are losing jobs due to this phenomenon. “The game is on the Internet. Exculsive is not like it use to be,” Cutrone stated as she talked about the presence of Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and other online social websites. She urged for each person to brand his or her identity, especially online. Cutrone also encouraged Twitter junkies to “follow” the “right” people in regard to the Fashion Industry. She promoted fashion enthusiasts to constantly stay “in the know.” Ultimately, Cutrone presented a vast amount of information, giving many insights on breaking into or surviving in the fashion industry. Her ability to make a room full of people laugh helped make her visit to SCAD Atlanta a success.
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